The Indianapolis journal., 1887-09-14
THE SOLID SOUTH.
Three States Which Are Likely to Break
Away From It in 1883.


Three States Which Are Likely to Break
Away From 1t in 1888.
New York Special to Cleveland Leader.
The three Southern States in which the Dem
ocratic party is now weakest are Virginia.
North Carolina and Tennessee A leading Re-
publican in each Of these States, who can speak
with authority, was invited to report what pres
idential candidate and what issues are most
likely next year to insure Republican success,
and the following their answers:
In the Congressional election of 1856 Virginia
gave over 10000 majority against the regular
Democratic candidates, eecting six Republicans,
three Democrats, and one Neutrality-suspicious.
The main issues were the tariff and the Blair
educational BILL and the strong feeling for pro-
lection and for federal aid for schools did the
work. This being the real condition of public
opinion here. the State is likely to go Republican
sion, particularly as Mr.. Barbour has iden-
titled himself fully with Morrlson's tariff
policy by two votes in Congress. Although the
recent Democratic State convention formally
ndorsed President Cleveland and his admins
tration. it is very questionable whether the
Democratic delegation will be unanimously for
him next year, and it is certain that it will be
m uch more difficult TO carry the State for him
than it would be for Mr.. Randall. Certainly
the outlook now is adverse to any Democrats
chances to carry the State In 1883, II ne and his
platform not positively and nnequvocally
for protection, for the Blair school bill Tor some
equivalent measure), and for the repeal of in
ternal taxes on tobacco and fruit brandies; and
even with such a Democrat upon such plat
form the probabilities will still be in favor of
the Republican candidate by reason OF the past
records of the two parties on these questions
Malone, Craig, John S. Wise and the other
controlling spirits of the existing Republican
organization are not for Blaine-are, indeed.
afraid of him and opposed to hiEn. They prefer
anybody else to him. and are laboring vigorously
for Senator Sherman, although they would be
content with Allison or any other Leading he
publican. But the Malone Wise directory has
opposition inside the party, which includes
large portion of the old organization, ana q
small though not uninfuentiai minority of the
ala
Blaine, actively and defantly. AS the case
stands, if the selection of delegates to the ma
tional Republican convention were controiled
solely by tie State organization. Virginia would
send solid Sherman delegation, instructed to
vote for him a unit; but since delegates must
be selected by each electoral district, the proba-
bility is that while Sherman will secure good
majority of the delegates, q minority Will be Tor
Blaine. and the delegation will be uninstructed.
The Republicans of North Carolina are nearly
unanimous for Mr. Blaine the presidential
nominee in 1883. This is generally conceded by
influential Republicans who have heretofore op-
posed him. The next State convention Will de-
clare for him with enthusiasm. Senator Haw-
ley has many friends in this, his native State,
| and with Blaine out of the race. would easily
have majority of the delegation In a national
| convention. If Blaine and Cleveland be the can
didates in 1888. present indications are that
| Blaine will carry North Carolina The past two
years have worked wonderful change In the
| minds of the people here The race question
has lost its force rallying cause for the Dem
ocrats. They admit that if 1.-The white man
| against the niger" cannot be used rallying
| cry the State is gone AS to issues thousands OF
| voters who have prayed for the internal revenue
| laws declare that they have caught the Demo
| ocratic leaders lying to them this question,
| and they will vote with them no more. Inc
Republicans favor the Blair bill, and the people
| here without regard to party, want It. There
is a growing belief that the tariff doctrines of
Republican party are the best for the material
| prosperity of the South. AS war and race pre-
| judice disappear, OLD w nigs VINO nave oeen hio
| ing under Democratic skirts join the Republican
| party.
There are also favorable State issues for the
| Republicans. Dissatisfaction is widespread
| with the system of county government. Ihe
gross abuses and corruption growing out OF this
system of county government have caused
| greater change IN the minds of the people about
| political parties in this State than all other
| things combined. The revolt of the people on
/ this question alone will give the Legislature the
State, and the electoral tickets TO the hepuouc-
ans in 1883.
| This is all, of course. predicted the hope
| that the managers of the National Republican
| organization will take some steps to reap the
| harvest which awaits them.
Mr.. Blaine would probably have carried Ten
| nessee but for his speech at Terre Haute, which
| full. of bloody shirt-sentiments rms drovs
| away large number of old-line Wings. with
| liberal ideas, who would have cast their hrst
| Republican vote for presidential Candidate
| since the war. Still. many leading Republicans
| here are ardent Blaine men, and at the State
! convention in 1886 the very mention OF his
| name provoked wonderful outburst OF ap-
plause. And now, all over the State, no man IS
| more admired for his courage than MIR. Blaine
| but within the past six months there has been q
! growing conviction that it might be impoitlc
| to nominate him again Yet his friends claim
| that if Mr.. Cleveland is nominated his opponent
| must be Mr.. Blaine.
| Just after the adjournment of Congress Mr..
| Sherman made trip South and visited Nash
| vile. where he made one of the greatest speeches
| of his life. 1t made a wonderful impression on
| the voters all over Tennessee, and has given Mr..
| Sherman a decided boom. His Endorsement by
| the Ohio Republicans has added to his popular
| ity. If this sentiment continue to grow as IL
| has during the past three months, if Mr.. Sher-
| man does not into the national convention
| with solid delegation from Tennessee, he Will
| at least divide the delegation with Mr.. Blaine,
| with the chances strongly in favor Of majority
| for Mr.. Sherman. Mr. Blaine has been the Idol OF
| Tennessee Republicans for long, however,
| that few of them will listen to the nomination
| of no other candidate. Should Cleveland De
| nominated by the Democrats he will lose prop.
| ably five thousand Democratic votes, which Will
| be cast for either Blaine Sherman There Is
| class of ultra Democrats in Tennessee who In
| sist that Mr. Cleveland has not been gooo
| Democratic President that he has been con-
trolled by the mugwumps and for TINS reason
| they will not support him, but the rank and ME
of the party will support him rather than see a
| Republican elected. AS to political issues In
Tennessee, the tariff and the Blair educational
| bill will take the lead over all others
! Guest at His Own Funeral.